Chapter 164: The End of Meritorious Deeds (Part II)

……，……

For the past few days, Shinkei has not lived in Honmaru, but in the Momijiyama Imperial Garden, west of Honmaru.

The inner castle area of Edo Castle can be divided into three parts, the core of which is, of course, the Honmaru, which is very large in scale and has many functions, which is guarded by Ninomaru and Sannomaru, and in addition to the more complex and magnificent buildings, the layout is similar to that of ordinary castles; To the west of the Honmaru is the Nishimaru and Momijiyama Imperial Garden, which is used by the Shogun's family for daily travel, and Nishimaru is the residence of the Shogun's heir, the Honmaru Ward, with a total area nearly twice as large as the Honmaru Ward, and a Waien Garden and a horse farm, which extends to the northeast to Otemén outside the Niju Bridge in the southeast of Nishimaru, and is the place where the military forces in the castle are placed, and the generals gather the troops in the castle or organize the queue when traveling. Then there is Kitamaru, which was originally a tsukudo shrine (dedicated to the god of Kanto) when Ota Michiki was stationed in Edo Castle, and is now the seat of the Edo Commission, which is stationed by a retainer who served as the head of the Edo Town Commission, and has three commissions under the jurisdiction of the South, North, and Chuka, and is connected to the outside world through Tayasu Mén.

Hearing Narita Nagatada's report that Nobuyo was in the Momijiyama Imperial Garden, my heart moved and I understood Nobuyo's thoughts. The Imperial Court is between Honmaru, where the shogun lives, and Nishimaru, where the heir lives, and he is probably ready to give way

In the depths of the Momijiyama Imperial Garden, there is also a residence called the Yamazato Pavilion, where Shinkage currently lives.

Under the leadership of Narita Nagatada, Hidekei and I went to the entrance of the residence, and I was a little surprised to find that the layout of this residence was very similar to the Kira Castle Museum in Tosa, but I was immediately relieved to think that the person who built the castle was Fujido Takatora, and it was not surprising that he had been in Tosa for a while, so it was not surprising that he would refer to the layout of the Kira Castle Pavilion.

"Please wait a while in the Great Imperial Palace, and your Majesty will go to inform the Gongfang Palace." Narita Nagataka bowed and said.

"Don't bother, I'll go in by myself," I coldly stopped him.

- Really, you even put up a fight for me? Even though I've never paid much attention to these false courtesies, I can't help but be a little angry at the moment.

So I hugged Keijiro and pushed Narita Nagata Nagata forward, and Xiujing and the others hurriedly stepped forward, opened the way in front of my side, and broke directly into the mountain pavilion. When the guards in the corridor saw Xiujing and the others, they immediately put their long knives on guard, and the rest of the people hurriedly ran inside, shouting alarms such as "Da Nayan has broken into the museum" as they ran, causing more guards to rush to this side of the corridor.

"What are you doing here? It's the Great Imperial Palace" Xiujing took a few steps forward, went straight into the sword formation, and kicked the warrior who avoided him a few times, "Don't hurry up and tell the Gongfang Hall to come out to greet him"

This is the quality of Xinjing's new recruit Konoe Academy? It's not enough to see...... I couldn't help but shake my head.

"Ah, is it the Great Imperial Palace" A guard leader finally understood a little when he saw Keijiro in my arms, but a look of embarrassment appeared on his face, "The Great Imperial Palace, the public hall is in the inner hall, and I drink and sing with Mrs. Narita...... The palace is already very drunk."

"Is that so?" I sighed, "Then you lead the way, everyone else disperses"

Wei bowed and led me to the inner hall.

This is the first time I have seen Shinkei after five years, his face has not changed much, but he is more mature than before, and he still has a Nobunaga-style beard, which adds some majesty to him. However, his current appearance is really far from mature and majestic, not only drunk, but also holding a disheveled beauty in his arms, it should be the Jia Fei Ji who once saw me with his father in Luobai.

I don't know if my face hasn't changed much, or if my memory is too deep, Kai Ji recognized me at a glance, and quickly broke free from Xinjing's embrace, tidied up his clothes a little, and then bowed respectfully: "Kai Ji visits the Great Imperial Palace"

"No need to be polite," I looked at Xinjing's decadent appearance, frowned and instructed her, "You help the princess to go down and rest"

Fei Ji replied and got up to support Xinjing, but was pushed away by Xinjing.

"Didn't my father come to see me? Why did you let me go down again? He staggered to his feet, "I have a lot to say to you."

"Can you still talk to me like this?" I shook my head, "I'll talk about it when you're sober."

"No, that's fine," Shinjing grinned, "and when I come to my senses, there are some things that I can't say or even dare to say." ”

"Really?" I gave Keijiro Jiāo in my arms to Xiujing and sat down in front of Shinkyo, "Then you can tell me to hear it." ”

Xinjing nodded, and turned his gaze to the Kai Ji beside him: "Kai Kai Ji, you go back inside to rest first." ”

"The ministers will retire first," Xiujing and the others also said knowingly, and left the room with Keijiro.

When everyone left, Xinjing sat down on the coffee table beside him with a mocking smile on his face: "Really, even if I become the shogun, I will still be a child in your eyes."

"You will always be my child." I said calmly.

"So, now you see that I am disobedient, so you came to punish me?" Xinjing still smiled, but it turned from self-deprecation to sarcasm, "Actually, you don't need to pull those relatives and genealogy daimyo to increase your momentum, I know very well in my heart that except for Kanto and Tohoku, most of the other daimyo are obedient to you, and the entire shogunate center of Edo Castle is almost still under your control." You only need to give an order, whether it is a central or a local daimyo, it will be very obedient to give way, and Fukeijiro's doll will succeed you as the shogun, so it will be easier to carry out your will. ”

"Do you think I'm obsessed with power?" I shook my head, took out a copy of the edict from my bosom and threw it in front of him, "Take a look"

Xinjing took the edict, unfolded it and glanced at it, then róu róu eyes, and looked at it carefully: "Promote the source courtier Xinjing to the position of a left minister......"

"Above the Minister Zuo, there is the Minister of the Imperial Politics...... It is true that I intend to have Keijiro succeed him as a general, but I myself will resign from all official positions in my body in accordance with the law, and give you the imperial court and Kyoto Jiāo to control. Those feudal lords and daimyo who came with me will be here to witness Keijiro's succession, and they will also swear to help you take control of the imperial court and Kyoto," I looked at Shinkei seriously, "Do you think this arrangement is appropriate?" ”

"Really?" Xinjing was silent for a while, and even his drunkenness seemed to fade a little, "My father doesn't want to depose me, he just wants me to take a back seat...... Is it to stop me from conquering Korea? ”

"That's right," I nodded, "and you won't be able to promote this matter as the leader of the martial arts in the world as you are now. ”

"Then I don't understand," Xinjing's face regained some calmness, "Why does my father have to stop me from conquering the court, even if I give up all my own reputations?" ”

"I'm old, and I still care about what I do? It's enough to be able to see the peace of the shogunate and see the younger generations inherit their own careers," I smiled with emotion, "For you, especially as an heir, I have always had nothing but love, how could I do things contrary to my purpose because of power?" ”

“…… Yes, my father's love, I bowed my head very emotionally.

"Therefore, setting the foreign policy of my country will be the last thing I will do in my life, and it will also be my natural responsibility as the minister of the imperial court and the king of Japan in the Ming court," I sighed, "Korea is the most important foreign vassal of the Ming Kingdom, and it is also the mén household of the imperial court on the mainland. And once there is a war with the Ming Kingdom, we have no chance of winning, and it will definitely affect the prestige of the shogunate and shake the foundation of the shogunate's rule. ”

"I really can't agree with my father's words," Shinkyo shook his head, "As a shogun, I naturally want to maintain the prestige and stability of the shogunate, even if it is to the back line, which is no different from my father...... And the reason why I went to the court was not only for my own power and prestige, but also for the future of the shogunate. ”

"Oh? How do you say this? I leaned forward slightly, an expression of interest on my face, but sighed inwardly.

Really, wasn't this kid very persuasive before? Why have you become so stubborn now? If it was because of power, then he would be so obedient to my arrangement now? You know, he doesn't have the prestige of me, and after losing his position as shogun, his influence on the shogunate is extremely limited......

Xinjing didn't explain directly, but asked me instead, "When you came in just now, you saw all the people in my academy, right?" How does it feel? ”

"The guard?" I shook my head and was very honest about my opinion: "It's not good. ”

"Then when you passed through the town, you also saw a large number of samurai and làng people gathered in front of the shrine, right?" Xinjing asked again.

"I didn't see it, but I heard Xiujing say," I was a little unaccustomed to being taken the initiative by Xinjing for the first time, so I asked him in turn: "Are these two things related?" ”

"Of course it does. Because the samurai of the academy were gathered from among the làng people of Edo Town," Nobuyai sighed, "Most of them are from the Hojo family, but the Hojo family is now transferred to the Yama yīn area, and the territory is less than the previous one, so many samurai have lost their family business and wander around the town all day, and some still harbor hatred for the shogunate...... However, when they heard that I had set up a college and that it was very rich, they all gathered together and swore allegiance to me, just because I was able to keep them and my family alive. ”

"But after all, they are from the enemy, and they are from the enemy and they are not from the territory, although they are forced to be loyal to you for their livelihood, the mustard in their hearts cannot be eliminated in a short time, and they will not fight to the death for you." I said in a deep voice, and I also understood the reason why the shogunate was so negligent in guarding against Hideki and other important ministers of the shogunate.

"What do I want them to do to the death? Fight against the elders? Xinjing smiled, "It's just to give them a way out."

"Well," I nodded appreciatively, "you're in a good position." ”

"Then, my father shouldn't stop me," Xiujing then turned back to the topic, "The reason why I want to conquer the dynasty is also to find a way out for more làng people and samurai who have no service and no inheritance rights, otherwise both the center and the feudal domains will face a huge threat to law and order." For those làng people and samurai, the conquest of the dynasty was the only way to gain merit and territory at present, and even the death of Guan Rong as a samurai was more dignified than running for a living, condescending to do things for merchants, or even dying as a starving man. ”

"Dignity......" I smiled bitterly in my heart, but I had to admit that there was some truth in what he said. Indeed, not all samurai are willing to open a "sorrel house" like me. Even the Li family, now they don't want to mention much about the things they did in the sorrel house back then, even if the owner of the sorrel house is the current Taizheng Gong and the operator is the lady of the Great Imperial Palace.

"So, what if we are defeated? The Ming Kingdom is more than ten times larger than Japan, and it is competing on land, what do you think is the chance of winning to get Korea as a new leader? ”

"The strength of the Ming Kingdom is actually nothing," Xinjing saw that my tone was a little loose, and hurriedly threw out another hole card, "It's not a secret, there are still a group of Ming people in the Goto Islands, who were the old subordinates of Mr. Wang Zhi back then, and they knew the reality of the Ming Kingdom, and they were also extremely indignant at the Ming court's act of killing Mr. Wang Zhi, and were willing to be loyal to the shogunate and the Karatsu Domain......"

"And this thing?" I interrupted him, "So, isn't it a lie that the North Korean side accuses Futami Mitsusei of taking in Haikou?" ”

"So to speak," Shinkyo smiled slightly, "but what does it matter? North Korea is not our opponent, and even the Ming Kingdom is not worth fearing. Even if we can't beat it, we have a strong water army, what can Ming Guo do to me? According to the customs of the Ming court and the sayings of those Ming people, as long as our side expresses surrender and sends allegiance again, even the exploration and trade can be maintained......"

He leaned forward, the drunkenness on his face was almost swept away, and there was an eager glint in his eyes: "How is it, Father, you should rest assured, right?" If you are willing to intervene, I am willing to listen to your NV once again, and our odds will be much better to complete this thing, and the fame of my father and son will far surpass that of the previous sages, and it will live on in this country forever."

"Your ambition is not small, even I can't catch up with you," I said, hiding my surprise, and smiled meaningfully, but I had already made up my mind.

"You said it was funny," Xin Jing hurriedly owed, "My father is wise and world-renowned, so naturally I don't dare to expect to surpass." ”

"Then listen to me," I said, putting away the edict, "your intentions are good, but you have gone astray. You know, ambition never ends, this mountain still looks at that mountain high, but as a samurai, introspection and self-discipline are also very important qualities; Those làng people, under the auspices of the shogunate and the Great Nayan and others, were naturally able to find a way out...... So, you can continue to be a general, but those ambitions around you must get out of the way, especially Mitsunari Futami, who is the source of the current Luàn Bureau and the biggest culprit, and he also deceived me about something in Kyoto."

"Father...... What are you going to do? Xinjing looked at me in astonishment, completely suppressed by my sudden outburst.

"Futami Kosei retired, was confined to Kyoto, and was succeeded by his son-in-law Futami Jingguang; The Ukuku family took in the Haikou and changed the punishment, and the territory was inherited by Mitsutada Futami of Amami Oshima in the Ryukyus, and served as the successor of Keimitsu Futami; The remnants of the Haikou Wangzhi were captured by Futami Mitsutada, and then sent back to the Ming Kingdom by the Anlan fleet. ”

"Are you going to give up monitoring of the Ryukyu Kingdom?" Xinjing's expression was even more shocked, "That's the glorious achievement you made with great difficulty back then."

"I said, I don't care about fame. And now the situation is different, the Ming Kingdom has reopened the Ningbo City Bosi, and the relay point in the Ryukyus is useless, and monitoring them again will only affect the friendly relations between the Ming Court and our side" I couldn't help but retort with Shinjing, and continued to say my arrangement, "The three brothers of Hirano Nagatai transferred the title of Nakayi to 100,000 stones, and the Nakayan Bureau left with them, and the Great O was in charge of the Grand Imperial Lady, and the daily affairs of Jiāo were given to Keijiro's rǔ mother Yukihime, and I will play the Ming Imperial Court and give her an official title...... In addition, the Narita clan was the maternal grandfather of Keisaburo, so he was not suitable to govern in the center, and the position of middle elder was replaced by Hitachi Fujido Takatora as the agent of the Kanto domains; Takigawa Kazutada was also to retire and was replaced by Owari Oda Nobuta. ”

"In this way, what difference does it make if I don't become a general" Shinkage's drunkenness completely woke up, and he stared at him, not to be outdone, refuting my decision, "Moreover, there is already Elder Gamo Nobuhide in the family, and now Yamauchi and Fujido are added, which is not in line with the laws of the shogunate."

"Takigawa Kazutada is the leader of the family, doesn't he also conflict with Ii Xuanzhi? Why did you insist that the elders agree to his succession? I asked Shin Jing Dao.

"This ......" Xinjing was speechless. Of course, he can't say that it was Takigawa Kazutada and some other former Oda ministers who were more willing to obey him because he was the son-in-law of the Oda family.

There are some things that can be tacitly understood, but not put on the table.

And some things are very helpless. For example, I know that Xinjing still respects me very much, and the fact that he has learned a lot about his governance skills also shows that he has greatly improved his political skills. However, I must prevent him from conquering the DPRK and prevent Japan from developing the habit of expanding abroad, even if he does not hesitate to contradict me for this. Although Hideyoshi suffered a crushing defeat in Korea, he was regarded as a pioneer of mainland policy in the Meiji era, and became the guide of later generations to invade Korea and the Northeast.

"So, in the next few years, you can learn from you how to deal with internal affairs, and don't go down the wrong path of using war to divert contradictions...... Focusing on internal affairs is exactly what you have been good at since you were a child, and it is also your duty as the next shogun" I waved my hand, got up and walked out of the room.